Github & Chrome Extensions

[Liquid_Entity]

Hi

Sorry for the stupid question but I may be in IT but I don't specialise in web/coding and anything like that but our delightful NHS run all their cack in Java and seeing as there is no Java in Chrome/Edge they want us to do some weird stuff with some extension.

I can't for the life of me figure out how to apply it. I've followed the step by step guide below but can't even figure it out. Nor the github way as there is simpy jargon on that page I don't understand.

Any help would be grateful cheers

UPDATE 24-1-2020 at which time the latest version of Chrome was 79.0.3945.130
It appears in the latest versions of chrome. You can only install in developer mode. Chrome now checks to ensure that extensions are packaged using CRX3, which our chrome extension wasn’t .

https://github.com/ahwayakchih/crx3#issues

As an alternative method to applying developer mode:
1. Unzip the crx file into a new directory
2. In chrome://extensions select the load unpacked button
3. Select the new folder where you unzipped the file, , no files will be shown (making appear it is empty, which it isn’t)
4. The extension should now appear on the extensions page.

 

[andshrew]

Are you talking about the NHS Smartcard Chrome extension which enables web apps to authenticate via your smartcard? If so they have a step-by-step guide which explains how you deploy it using the Chrome Group Policy setting to automatically install an extension. From memory it's a one liner you just put in their extension ID and then your Chrome (or Edge) installations will automatically add it. I think you also need to install another application which enables the extension to talk with the Smartcard software. https://nww.digital.nhs.uk/dir/downloads/chrome-extension/

This is the old way of doing things though, if your app supports it you should look at their NHS Credential Management software which works across multiple browsers without requiring an extension (provided your app has actually implemented support for it).
https://digital.nhs.uk/services/ide...ce-2/it-support-guidance/smartcards/configure

 

[Liquid_Entity]

thanks for the info, we don't have domain gp so it's a nightmare deploying this. I'll check this out anyway.

I know our latest builds have autopilot and nhs credential manager. The issue is the current kit out there, they're all now unable to access NHS smartcard stuff

 

[andshrew]

The group policies are just registry entries behind the scenes so I think in theory as long as you're using the Pro or Enterprise version of Windows you should just be able to deploy the registry keys via whatever management tool you have to set this on them.

For example look at:
https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/#ExtensionInstallForcelist

So you would create a registry entry like this substituting the id and URL from the NHS guide:

HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist\1 = aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx
HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist\2 = abcdefghijklmnopabcdefghijklmnop
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